Machine for assembling closure caps and sealing gaskets



Aug, 29, 1950 A. A. JAHR 2,520,315

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS AND SEALING GASKETS Filed June 3. 1944 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

BY fir/[Mr 4 Jafir WW M M WW1)? Aug, 29, 1950 A. A. JAHR MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS AND SEALING GASKETS l1 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1944 I I I WT. L F U LIL.

INVENTOR. flrf/zur 11 fall! HTTORNE) 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. flr/hm" A fafzr A. A. JAHR MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS AND SEALING GASKETS Aug 29, 1950 Flled June 3, 1944 Aug. 29, 1950 A. A. JAHR 2,520,315

. MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS AND SEALING GASKETS Filed June 3, 1944 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 29, 1950 A. A. JAHR 2,520,315

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS AND SEALING GASKETS Filed June 3, 1944 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

WWMMJ Aug 29, 1950 A. A. JAHR ,3

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS AND SEALING GASKETS Filed June 3, 1944 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR.

mg. 29, 1950 JAHR 2,520,315

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS AND SEALING GASKETS Filed June 5, 1944 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 IN V EN TOR.

Ange 29 1950 A. A. JAHR 2,520,315

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS AND SEALING GASKETS Filed June 5, 1944 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 5 /l A P HTTURNE) Aug. 29, 1950 A. A. JAHR 2,520,315

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS AND SEALING GASKETS Filed June 3, 944 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVEN TOR.

Aug. 29, 1950 A. A. JAHR 2,520,315

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS AND SEALING GASKETS Filed June 3, 1944 11 Sheets-Sheet 1O INENTOR 1w 61AM Aug. 29, 1950 A. A. JAHR 2,520,315

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS AND SEALING GASKETS Filed June 3, 1944 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR. flrf/mr fl fakr WWW? Patented Aug. 29, 1950 MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS AND SEALING GASKETS Arthur A. Jahr, Round Lake, 111., assignor to Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation, Lancaster, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application June 3, 1944, Serial N 0. 538,622

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of closure caps for glass containers and the like and more particularly to an apparatus for assembling closure caps and sealing gaskets.

Closures for forming hermetic seals on glass containers are sold in large quantities. Such closures are substantially cup-shaped having cover portions and depending flanges. A ring gasket made of rubber or similar sealing material is housed in the skirt or flange of the cap for forming the hermetic seal on the container to which the cap is applied. The caps may be cut and shaped in the usual stamping machines, but the assembly of the gaskets with the caps is amore diflicult problem. The gaskets are generally of the flexible ring type and are difficult to handle with automatic machinery. The insertion of the gaskets by hand is slow and requires unnecessary factory space. In addition, the operators frequently cut their fingers on the sharp edges of the caps. The gaskets are ordinarily slightly larger than the skirts of the caps and each gasket has to be reduced in size to pass a flange at the lower edge of the cap, which holds the gasket in position. Automatic machinery has been provided for doing the operation, but it is complicated and expensive. In addition, packers who purchase the caps prefer to have the gasket locked in the closure by an inturned edge which grips the bottom of the gasket.

The present invention aims to provide a simple inexpensive machine for assembling caps and ring gaskets at a rapid rate. In addition, the invention aims to provide a simple and efiectiv'e machine for locking the gaskets in the closure so that they cannot be dislodged in subsequent shipping, handling and sealing.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for assembling closure caps and ring gaskets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple machine for locking ring gaskets in closures.

Another object of the invention is to provide an effective machine for inserting and locking flexible rubber gaskets in closures.

Another object of the invention is to assemble ring gaskets in closures and subsequently flange the lower edge of the closure into holding or looking engagement therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide an effective machine for inserting a gasket in a closure and simultaneousl fianging the closure to hold the gasket in position.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the machine and one way of practicing the method;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the machine viewed from the bottom of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine viewed from the left side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 of the upper part of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing the movement of the closures and gaskets and the several operating stations;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line 6--5 of Fig. 5 showing the means for feeding the gaskets to and inserting them in the dial and the means for inserting the gaskets in the closures;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 1--'l of Fig. 2 showing details of the drive for the machine;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the gasket feeding and inserting mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the delivery of the closures to the dial;

. Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the assembly of the gasket with the closure and the initial fianging of the edge of the closure;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the spinning mechanism for completing the operation of bending the edge of the cap to cause it to interlock with the gasket;

Fig. 12 is a erspective view of the member which fits into each aperture of the first dial for hold the cap and gasket therein;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a finished cap in which the gasket has been inserted and the edge turned inwardly to interlock with the gasket in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 13a is a sectional view of the closure shown in Fig. 13 with a notched inturned edge;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of another form of closure in which the gasket has been inserted;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 14 showing the edge of the closure flanged inwardly to hold the gasket in position;

Fig. 16 is a detailed View illustrating the cam and associated mechanism for raising the cap at the gasket inserting station;

Fig. 17 is a detailed view of the mechanism for inserting the gasket into the closure;

Fig. 18 is a detailed view of the means for operating the cap transfer which moves the cap out of one dial into the other;

Fig. 19 is a detailed view illustrating the means for raising and lowering the caps at the spinning and fianging station;

Fig. 20 is a detailed view illustrating the means for operating the cap holding means during the spinning operation;

Fig. 21 illustrates the means for operating the ring feeding mechanism; and

Fig. 22 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the movement of the gaskets and closures through the machine and the several stations at which the different operations are performed.

Referring again to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the machine and one way of practicing the method, there is shown a machine for assembling flexible ring gaskets in the skirts of closure caps and for securing the gaskets in position therein. While various types of closures and gaskets may be utilized, Fig. 13 illustrates a closure I having a cover part 2 and a depending skirt or flange 4 which is flared outwardly with a cylindrical portion at its bottom as shown in Fig. 9 and as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 13. The free edge is rolled inwardly into a U-shape to engage and interlock with the lower edge or bottom of a flexible ring gasket 3 preferably made of rubber or a similar material. The inturned edge of the cap is shown in Fig. 13 as continuous but it may be scalloped or notched as shown at 1 in Fig. 130. to facilitate the inturning operation without buckling the metal at the edge of the cap. The construction shown in Fig. 13a is particularly desirable with closures having a small diameter.

Another type of closure la, to which the invention is applicable, is shown more particularly in Figs. 14 and and has a cover portion 2a and a depending skirt or flange 4a. The skirt is flared outwardly into a shelf for supporting the gasket and the lower edge of the skirt is turned inwardly as shown at 5a to hold the gasket 6a in position. While two types of closures have been shown, other types may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention.

The machine and method relate more particularly to the assembly of a gasket such as 6 or Be into closures such as I or Ia and to turning inwardly the lower edge of the closure to hold. the gasket in position and, if desired, to interlock with the gasket as shown in Figs. 13 and 13a.

The several operations of the machine are shown diagrammaticall in Figs. 5 and 22 of the drawings. Ring gaskets 6 are conveyed to the machine by a conveyor belt 8 passing over a pulley 9. The forward gasket is stopped on the conveyor by one side of the guideway II! in front of a pusher The pusher forces the gaskets across the conveyor over an aperture |2 in a rotary dial or disk I4 which has a series of apertures 12 adjacent its outer periphery. The

closures l are fed to the underside of the disk I4 by means of the conveyor I6 extending over a pulley I5. The disk l4 moves step by step to position the apertures at their respective stations and remains stationary while the several operations are performed. The gaskets are delivered to the disk at station A; the closures are delivered at station B and the gaskets are inserted in the closures at station C. The assembled closures and gaskets are removed from the disk M at station D and delivered to a second disk l'l having a series of recesses I8 in its periphery. The lower edge of the closure is turned inwardly at station E to envelop the lower edge of the gasket and, if desired, to interlock with it. These several operations will now be described in detail under the following headings: (1) The drive; (2) The rotary disks; (3) The gasket delivery; (4) The cap delivery; (5) The cap and gasket assembly; (6) The transfer mechanism; (7) The spinning mechanism; and (8) Operation.

The drive Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 and 7 of the drawings, a box-like frame 2!} of cast metal or other construction is provided. A main drive shaft 2| extends through the center of the machine and is housed in bearings 22 and 22a (Figs. 3 and 7) in the sides of the machine. The end of the shaft 2| has a combined gear and cam 24 which meshes with a gear 25 on a shaft 25 (Figs. 1, 2 and 7) housed in bearings 21 and 21a in the sides of the frame and is driven by a pulley 28 mounted on the end thereof. It will be understood that the shaft 26 and the gears 25 and 24 may be motor driven or any other suitable source of power utilized, the pulley 23 being illustrative. The shaft 26 serves to support the gear 25 and the pulley 28 and extends completely through the machine as a matter of convenience in mounting. Two additional shafts 29 and 36 (Figs. 2 and 7) are mounted in bearings 3|, 3|a and 32, 32a in the sides of the machine. These shafts serve primarily as rocker shafts for bell cranks, which will be described hereinafter, for operating parts of the machine.

The gear 24 on the main drive shaft 2| has a cam groove 34 therein which is effective upon bell crank 35 pivoted on the shaft 39 (Figs. 2, 3, l and 16) to raise the caps during the insertion of the gaskets therein. A sprocket 33 on the main drive shaft 2| serves as a drive for the cap spinning mechanism (Figs. 2 and. 7). A cam 38 (Figs. 1, 3, '7 and 19) on the main drive shaft 2| has a groove 38a therein which raises and lowers the closures at the spinning station. A cam 33 (Figs. 1, 7 and 17) on the main drive shaft, having a groove 39a therein, operates the means for forcing the gasket into the closure through the bell crank 40 pivoted on shaft 39. A cam 4| (Figs. 1, '7 and 17), having a cam groove 4|a, operates the means for forcing the ring into a recess or aperture through the bell crank 42 pivoted on the shaft 3|]. A drum cam 44 (Figs. 3, 6, '7 and 21), having a groove 4 1a, operates the means for transferring a ring gasket from the conveyor 8 to a position above an aperture [2 in the first rotary disk. A cam 45, on shaft 2| effective upon a cam roller 45 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 20) operates bell crank 41, rotatably mounted on the end of shaft 29, and its associated mechanism for holding the closure against rotation during the spinning operation. Cam 48 is effective upon bell crank 39 and associated mechanism (Figs. 1, 2, 3, '7 and 18) to transfer the cap and assembled gasket from the first rotary disk to the second. These several cams described generally are all mounted on the main drive shaft 2! which simplifies the operation of the machine. The specific mechanisms associated with the cams for the several operations will be described in detail hereinafter in connection with the description of the mechanisms which they operate.

The main drive shaft 2! also carries a bevel gear 58 (Figs. 1, 3 and 7) which meshes with a bevel gear on shaft 52 to rotate continuously an arm 54 which is a part of a Geneva movement for rotating intermittently the disks I4 and I 7 (Fig. l). The arm has a roller 55 (Figs. 2

and 7) which enters the radial slots 56 on the disk 51 of the Geneva movement to turn the disk 5; the distance between two slots 56. The arcuate recesses 58 in the disk 5'! cooperate with the recess 59 and the circular portion 59a rotating with the arm 54 to hold the diskfil accurately in position during the stop periods.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4 it will be noted that the Geneva disk 5? is mounted on a vertical shaft 63 housed in bearing 80 secured to the frame. The assembly disk It is mounted on the upper end of the shaft. A gear 6| is also mounted on the shaft 63 and meshes with an idle gear 62 on stub shaft 64 which in turn meshes with a gear 65 on shaft 56 housed in bearings Bl and connected at its upper end to the second disk l'l, thus the two disks l4 and I! are driven by a Geneva movement and geared to I rotate in timed relation.

The rotary disks As described above, the present machine has a pair of disks l4 and ii. The disk M has a series of apertures or recesses :2 in which the gaskets and caps are assembled and the edge of the cap partially bent over the bottom of the gasket. The disk l'l has recesses i8 in its outer periphery for receiving the caps. The details of the construction of these disks are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 12 and 22 and particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and 12.

The disk It has a series of apertures l2 formed in its periphery designed particularly to facilitate the assembly of the gaskets and closures. While these apertures may be shaped into thedesired form without a separate member, the preferred embodiment provides a member as (Figs. 4 and 12) which has a cylindrical part 69 extending downwardly below the disk M and a cylindrical part ll) extending upwardly into the apertures in the disk. Suitable apertures "H (Fig. 12) are adapted to receive screws for attaching the members (ill in position. The inner part of the member 68 has a cylindrical portion Mia and a flared portion lilb so that a ring gasket dropped into the upper part will fall into the flared portion and will be constricted as it is forced down into the cylindrical part lila. The lower flange parts 39 extending below the disk It has a slot 65a at one side to permit a closure to pass into registry with the aperture therein and has a slot 6% on the opposite side to permit a transfer member to engage and remove the closure after the gasket has been assembled with it. A shoulder lilc is formed directly below the cylinrical portion Eta. Preferably the shoulderls rounded and may be substantially U-shaped, so that the free edge of the closure when forced against the shoulder will be bent inwardly over the edge of the gasket which has been inserted in the closure. While any number of apertures may be formed in the diskM and members I58 inserted therein, six are shown in the present embodiment.

The second disk 11 (Figs. 4 and 5) has a series of recesses l8, preferably semi-circular, formed in the periphery thereof. A guard rail 14 extends about the disk and retains the assembled closures and gaskets within the recesses during their movement by the disk.

The disks l4 and I! are geared to each other by gears BI, 62 and E5 and are driven intermittently by the Geneva drive as described above.

The gasket delivery The gaskets 6 may be delivered and inserted into the member 68 in apertures I2 by any suitable means. As shown herein (Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 1'7, 21.and 22). the gaskets are delivered on a belt 8 (Figs. 1 and 5) driven by sprocket l3 (Fig. 3) on the main drive shaft 2!, chain I311, sprocket I317 on shaft I30; gear I36, gear I3f and shaft l3h (Fig. 3), which carries the belt pulley 9. The forward gasket is stopped adjacent station A by one side of the guideway Ill. At this point the transfer member I I, mounted in guideways 15 (Figs. 5, 6 and 8) is reciprocated :as shown by the arrow (in Fig. 2 to move the gasket from the conveyor over the side of the disk and above a recess in the disk M. The transfer member is reciprocated by a link 16 (Fig. 6) secured to one end of a bell crank 11 pivotally mounted at 18 on bracket 19, and connected at its other end by an adjustable link 86 to a lever 8| (Fig. 21) pivoted on shaft 82 and having a cam roller 84 operating in the groove 44a of the drum cam 44 (Figs. 6, '7 and 21).

The end of the member H is arcuate to conform to the curvature of the gaskets. Likewise the end of the guideway ID adjacent the aperture is arcuate. When the member H is in its extreme position, it forms with the end of the guideway, substantially an extension of the aperture, whereby the gasket is centered over it. A member 85 having a disk 85a at its lower end substantially the size of the cylindrical portion Ilia. of the member 68 moves downwardly and forces the gasket onto the cylindrical portion 10a. The gasket is then within the aperture of the disk I 1 (Figs. 8 and 9). The operation of transferring the gasket and inserting it into the aperture is performed while the disk Hi is at res The disk 85a, is carried by the member 85 secured at its upper end to a cross member 85b (Fig. 6) fixed to the reciprocating vertical member 86 with its opposite end slidably mounted on the vertical rod 850. The member 86 and disk 85a. are reciprocated in time relation with the movement of the disk 14 by the bell crank 40 (Figs. '7 and 17) pivoted on shaft 25 and hav ing a cam roller at its opposite end operating in the groove of the cam 39. The connection between the lower end of the rod 86 and the bell crank 4% is preferably by means of a sleeve mem ber 86a, (Fig. 1'?) abutting a nut 86b at its upper end and held in its upper position by means of a spring 860. In this way, the distance that the rod 86 and the disk 85a moves upwardly is definitely fixed. However, the movement downwardly is through the intermediation of the spring 860, which permits the parts to yield if an obstruction is encountered. The gasket having been inserted into the aperture in the disk H! at station A, the disk rotates to move the aperture to station B for the reception of a closure cap.

The cap delivery The caps may be delivered to the disk I4 by a conveyor belt I6 as shown in Figs. 5, 9 and 21, with the forward cap pressed against the periphery f the disk I4 by the conveyor. The conveyor may be driven by a sprocket Ia (Fig. 3) on shaft I371, chain I5b (Figs. 1 and 4) and sprocket I5c on shaft I511, which carries the pulley I 5. When the disk stops with an aperture at station B in line with the closures on the conveyor, the recess 69a in the member 93 is facing a closure and the movement of the belt conveys the cap into the recess (Figs. 4, 5 and 9). Theguideways 38 prevent lateral movement of the caps on the conveyor. It will be noted that the closures move with the cover portions down and with the skirts facing upwardly and enter the underside of the disk I4 through the slots 69a in the flange 69 of the member 58. The free edge of the closure faces the shoulder 190 of the member 08. The closure at this point is directly below the gasket in the aperture and aligned with it as shown in Fig. 9. As the disk I4 rotates the aperture from station E to station C, the circular guide 89 holds the closure in position against the flange 69 of the member 68.

Cap and gasket assembly At station 0, the gasket is inserted into the closure and the edge of the closure is bent to retain the gasket in position therein. The bending of the closure at this point also facilitates the subsequent spinning operation which will be described hereinafter.

The mechanism for the insertion of the gasket in the closure is shown more particularly in Figs. 5, 6, 10 and 16. As the closure moves to station C, the cover is engaged by a disk 90 which is flush with the table at the time the closure is delivered and is later forced up with the cupshap-ed member 94 until the edge of the closure is in engagement with the shoulder I00 of the member 68. At this point, a disk 9I' on the opposite side of the aperture engages the upper side of the gasket 5 and forces it down into the closure as shown in Fig. 10. The disk 9| is mounted on a cross member 9 In (Fig, 5) fixed to a reciprocating vertical rod 86 with its opposite end slidably secured to a shaft 9Ib operated by means of cam 4| (Fig. 7) on the main drive shaft 2!, cam groove Ma therein, bell crank 42 pivoted on shaft 30- with its opposite end connected to the rod 86'. The operation of the disk M for inserting the gasket in the closure is the same as the operation of the disk for inserting the gasket into the member 58 as described above and shown in Figs. 5 and 1'7. The cam 4| and its associated mechanism for operating the disk M is the same as cam 39 and its associated mechanism shown more particularly in Fig. 17, hence a further description of the mechanism is not necessary.

After the gasket has been inserted in the closure as shown in Fig. 10, it is desirable to turn in the edge of the closure to a limited extent. The holder 94 (Fig. 10) having a cupshaped recess 95 adapted to receive the closure and to support the sides thereof and having a flared surface 95a corresponding to the flared surface of the closure, forces the free edge of the closure against the shoulder I00 of the member 68. This is accomplished by the continued rotation of a segmental gear 96 meshing with the gear teeth 91 on the support 98 for the cupshaped member which moves the cup-shaped member into engagement with the closure and forces the free edge of the closure against the curved shoulder I00, thereby turning the edge of the closure inwardly over the end of the gasket to hold the gasket in position. The amount that the free edge of the cap is turned in may be controlled as desired, preferably the inturning at this station is slight and the subsequent spinning operation to be described is utilized for the complete bending of the edge and for interlocking it with the bottom of the gasket.

The gear 96 (Figs. 7 and 16) is operated by means of an arm 99 connected by an adjustable link I00 to a bell crank 35 pivoted on shaft 310 and having a cam roller on its opposite end fitting in a cam groove 34 of the gear 24.

While the bending of the edge of the closure is described as occurring after the insertion of the gasket, it may be performed if desired at the time the gasket is inserted or before it is inserted. The gasket may be constricted sufficiently to pass over the inturned portions.

Transfer mechanism The assembled cap and gasket with the free edge of the cap turned in slightly leaves station C and advances to station E where it is transferred from the first disk I4 to the second disk IT.

The transfer mechanism is shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, '7 and 18. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown a guideway I02 which registers with the opening 69a in the member 68 so that the cap with the gasket in it may slide out of the member 68 in the first disk I4 into a recess I8 in the second disk IT. The means for transferring the cap are partly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings where an arm I04, rotatably mounted on shaft I05, has its free end attached to a link I06 which in turn has a pin I01 on its opposite end projecting through the slots I08 and IBM to engage the back of the closure as shown in Fig. 4. The pin I0.'I moves along the elongated slot I08 to transfer the closure from the member 68 through the opening 69a therein into a recess I8 in the second disk IT.

The arm I04, carrying the link I06 and pin I01, is operated by means of a bevel gear I09 meshing with a segmental gear IIO (Figs. 1, 4 and 5). The segmental gear H0 is mounted on a shaft IIOa in bearing IIOb (Fig. 1) and is operated by means of an arm III (Fig. 4) fixed to shaft I I0a, and attached to a rod I I2 (Figs. 1 and 2) which in turn is adjustably and pivotally attached to the upper end of a bell crank 49 pivoted on shaft 29 with its other end having a cam roller 49a (Fig. 18) engaging cam 48. Thus, as the disk I4 positions an assembled cap and closure at station D, the cam 48 on the main drive shaft 2| operates bell crank 49, rod II2, arm III at the upper end thereof to swing segmental gear I I0 which in turn operates the bevel gear I09, the arm I04 attached thereto and link I06 attached to cap engaging member I0I to transfer the cap from one disk to the other. The cam 48 returns the cap engaging pin I01 to its original position after the transfer is completed. It is then in position to engage the next cap which is positioned in front of it at station D.

The spinning mechanism As described hereinbefore, the rotary disk I1 is advanced step by step by the Geneva drive until the assembled cap and gasket reaches station E. At this point, the free edge of the flange is turned further inwardly into interlocking engagement with the lower edge of the gasket by the mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, '7, 11, 19 and 20 and more particularly in Figs. 4 and 11.

The mechanism comprises a spinning head I I5 (Figs. 4 and 11) having a pair of spinning rollers II'I thereon mounted on pins Mia. The head may be threaded to a Vertical rotating sleeve I I8 having a rod I49 extending through it. The closure is raised into engagement with the spinning rollers by means of a cup-shaped member III and a supporting disk I29. The supporting disk I20, mounted on a rod I2 I, is held flush with the table below the disk IT by means of an adjustment nut I22 (Fig. 2) engaging a stop I24 which also serves as a bearing for the lower end of the rod IZI. A spring I25 resiliently holds the nut I22 against its stop which is the normal position of the supporting disk I20. The cupshaped member H5 may be threaded to a sleeve IZZ'I which has a member I28 (Fig. 2) at its lower end attached at one end to an arm I29 (Fig. 19) fixed to the shaft 29. The shaft29 (Fig. 7) and the arm I29 fixed thereto are operated by the cam roller 33a on arm 38?) (Figs. 2, 3 and 19). As the cam 38 operates the arm 38b, shaft 29 and arm I29 to raise the sleeve I21 and cupshaped member II9, the latter moves upwardly into engagement with the closure I with the outwardly flared flange I33 engaging about the outside of the flared flange of the closure to support the outer contour thereof and to raise the closure into engagement with the spinning rollers Hi. The cup-shaped member IIQ engages and raises with it the supporting disk I25 in opposition to the spring I25 which holds the rod in its lower position (Fig. 2). By shaping th inside of the member M9 to fit the outside of the skirt of the cap, the flange of the cap is prevented from collapsing and the edge of the cap may be rolled inwardly as far as desired. Preferably the edge is turned inwardly until it interlocks with the lower part of the gasket as shown more particularly in Fig. 13, in which a closure, similar to the one in the spinning head, is shown in detail. Where a closure of the type la is used, the edge is merely bent into a substantially horizontal flange in the preferred embodiment.

The means for rotating the sleeve IIS and the spinning head IE5 is shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3. The sleeve I I8 is mounted in a bearing I Ida and has a bevel gear I34 at its upper end meshing with a bevel gear I35 mounted on a shaft I35 in a bearing on a bracket Itfia with a sprocket I31 at the opposite end thereof. A chain I538 connects sprocket I31 with a sprocket I 39 operatively connected to a bevel gear I49 mounted in bracket MI. The bevel gear 140 meshes with a bevel gear I42 on a shaft I45 in bearings MM and is driven by a sprocket I45, chain I55 and sprocket 35 on the main drive shaft 2! of the machine. By means of the several bevel gears, the chains I38 and I 45 with their sprockets, the spinning head is rotated directly from the main drive shaft continuously.

It is desirable to hold the closure I against rotation under the forces applied by the spinning rollers. This may be achieved in any desired manner but as illustrated herein, a pressure disk I45 (Fig. 11) having an annular friction member I48 preferably made of rubber or similar material mounted on the face thereof, engages the inside of the cover of the closure. Pressure is appliedto the disk I43 through a rod I49, to which it is threaded, to hold the cap securely in position. While any suitable means may be utilized for applying the necessary pressure to the pressure disk, the rod I 39 is operatively connected atits upper end to an arm I55 (Figs. 1 and 3) held inposition thereon by nuts I5I and I 5Ia. The arm I55 is integral with a sleeve I5llb on shaft I53 housed in bearings I53a. Integral with the sleeve I551) (Figs. 1 and 3) is a second arm ISM attached to a vertical rod I52 by a sleeve I5s held in position by a spring I55 on one side and bya nut I55 on the other side. The normal upper position of the red I 49 and the pressure disk I48 is determined by the nut I56 on the rod I52. On the downward movement of the rod I52, the disk is pressed down against the cover of the closure through the intermediation of spring I55. The rod I52 is connected at its lower end to an arm I58 (Figs. 2 and 3) keyed to shaft I59. An arm I65 (Figs. 1, 7 and 20) also keyed to shaft I59 at its opposite end is operatively connected by an adjustable rod I63 to a bell crank t? pivoted on shaft 253 with its other end in engagement with cam 55. Through the intermediation of cam 45 and the connections described above; the pressure disk I48 (Fig. 11) may be pressed with anydesired pressure against the cover of the cap to prevent rotation during the spinning operation.

The. closure is moved upwardly into engagement with the spinning rollers I I1, which are continuously operated, as shown more particularly in the sectional view of Figs. 4 and 11. When the spinning operation is completed, the disk I48 may serve to force the cap out of the spinning rollers and the disk I25 may serve to force the cap .out of the cup-shaped member -I I9 so that it is free to proceed with the disk IT.

The guide 74, after the closure passes station E permits the closures to leave the recesses I8 and to follow along the guideway out of the machine as shown in Fig. 22.

An ejector I'II) (Figs. 1 and 5) is mounted on a pin .I'II with an arm I12 extending under the disk I? to force any closures out of the recesses I8 which fail to move out along the guide I4 as described above. The position of the arm I12. may be adjusted by a nut on pin I'I i fitting in a slot H5 in the ejector. The empty recess I8 is now ready to be positioned for the reception of another closure from the disk I4.

Operation In the operation of the machine, the two disks I4 and Il are rotated intermittently by means of a Geneva drive (Fig. 7) having the continuous rotating member with the arm 55 thereof engaging the intermittently rotated member 51 which is directly connected to the shaft 53 carrying the disk I4 and operatively connected through gears iii, 52 and 55 to the shaft et which carries the disk I "I.

Gaskets are fed to the machine by a conveyor 5 (Figs. 5, 6 and 22) and are transferred laterally from the conveyor over the disk It in registry with an aperture I2 by means of the transfer member II. The transfer member II is reciprocated to feed the gaskets by means of a link l6 (Fig. 21), arm TI on shaft "I8. rod iii), ar-m 8i, cam roller 84 thereon and drum cam 45 on shaft 2 I. Ring gaskets enter the flar d end 5% of the member 58 while at the transfer station. The disk member I35 forces the gasket ontoflthecylindrical surface "ID of the member 58 iwherethe gasket will be in registry with the closure which is fed to the disk at the next station. The member 85 and the disk 85a thereon are raised and lowered to position the gasket by means of cam 39 (Fig. 17) having a cam groove 39a engaging a cam roller on one end of the bell crank 48 pivoted on the shaft 38 and operatively connected to the lower end of the rod 86. Closures are fed to the machine in inverted position by a conveyor I6 which moves the closures consecutively against the disk I4 as shown more particularly in Figs. 4, and 9. The forward closure enters a recess 69a and is positioned below the gasket in the member 68. As the disk moves the aperture and closure therein to the next station C the circular guide 89 retains the closure in the recess.

When the closure reaches the station C, it rests upon a disk 90. The cup-shaped member 94 (Figs. and 16) is moved upwardly by a gear 96 engaging the rack 91 to force the cup-shaped member about the closure and to force the upper edge of the closure against the shoulder 180 on the member 68 with sufiicient force to turn the edge of the closure inwardly. Preferably, prior to the inturning operation, the disk 9| is forced downwardly by a mechanism corresponding to that shown in Fig. 1'7 operated by cam 39 to insert the gasket within the closure. The bending operation preferably follows the insertion. The gear 96 (Fig. 16) is operated by cam 34 on gear 24 through the intermediation of bell crank 35 operatively connected to one end of an adjustable rod I08, the other end of which is connected to an arm 99 for rotating the gear 96.

The disk I4 is rotated to bring the closure to station D, where the recess 69a in the member 68, through which the closure entered the member 68, is facing the recess I8 in the disk I! as shown more particularly in Fig. 5. A transfer member I81 (Figs. 4 and 5) engages the side of the closure and moves it through the opening 69a into a recess l8. The member I01 and link I06 are operatively connected to an arm I84 on shaft I05. A bevel gear meshes with bevel gear H8 which is operated by an arm III (Fig. 18), rod H2, bell crank 49 on shaft 29 having a cam roller 49a engaging the groove of the cam 48 to reciprocate the member ID? in timed relation to the movement of the disks I4 and I].

The closure with the gasket inserted is retained in the recesses I8 by the guide I4 and moved step by step until it reaches station E where the edge of the cap is bent inwardly to the desired extent. The spinning operation is performed by a spinning head H6 which rotates continuously. At the station, as shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 11, the cap is raised into engagement with the spinning head by means of a cup-shaped member H9 which is shaped to conform to the contour of the exterior of the closure and in its upward movement carries with it the closure supporting disk I20. Thus the closure is supported exteriorly while it is forced against the spinning rollers I IT on the spinning head H6. The member H9 is raised upwardly by means of a bell crank I29 (Fig. 19) mounted on shaft 29 with a cam roller 38a on its opposite end 38b engaging the groove of cam 38. The supporting rod I2I for the disk I28 has its lower end extending through a bearing I24 (Figs. 2 and 3) with a stop nut I22 limiting its downward movement so that it always stops at the height of the table to permit the cap to be moved onto it. The rod is held in its lower po- 12 sition by means of the spring I25 effective upon the bearing I24.

The spinning rollers are operated by means of bevel gears I34 and I35 (Fig. 2), sprocket I31, chain I38, sprocket I39,'bevel gears I40 and I42 (Fig. l), shaft I44, sprocket I45, chains I46 and sprocket 36 on the main drive shaft 2I.

During the spinning operation, the pressure member I48 threaded to the end of the rod I49 is forced downwardly to press the cover of the cap firmly against the support and to prevent rotation of the cap during the spinning. The rod I 49 is operated (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) by means of an arm I58 pivoted on shaft I53 and having an integral arm I58a operatively connected at its end to a rod I52 which in turn is connected to an arm I58 on shaft I59 having an arm I60 at its opposite end connected by a rod I63 (Figs. 1 and 20) to a bell crank 41 having a cam roller 46 thereon engaging the cam 45 on the main drive shaft H of the machine.

In this manner, the gaskets are delivered on the conveyor 8, transferred to the disk I 4, and inserted into the apertures therein at station A. The disk moves the aperture with the gasket therein tostation B where the closures are inserted by the continuously moving conveyor I6. The disk then moves the aperture with the cap and gasket therein to station C where the gasket and cap are assembled and the free edge of the cap turned in to a small extent. The assembled cap and gasket is then moved to station D where it is transferred from the disk I4 to the recess I8 in the disk IT. The disk I! also moves the closure in a step by step movement until station E. is reached where the lower edge of the closure is spun inwardly to the desired extent and preferably to interlock with the bottom of the gasket. The assembled caps and gaskets are then moved out of the disk I'l. The ejector I16 serves to prevent any closures from remaining in the recesses I8.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a simple machine and method for effectively inserting rubber ring gaskets into closures. The gaskets may be flexible and generally are so. The parts are adapted to hold them in a circular form and to insert them into the closures. The edge of the closure is bent inwardly in two operations in the preferred embodiment, which gives a more effective result. The parts are properly timed with respect to each other so that the operations are performed consecutively and rapidly. The parts of the machine are rugged in construction and fully capable of withstanding the rough usage to which they may be subjected. The simplicity of the machine and the effectiveness of its operation are important features, particularly in view of the fact that various sizes of caps are utilized, thus making a number of machines desirable to furnish the range of sizes customarily required by packers.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine for assembling closure caps and ring gaskets, the combination of a rotatable member provided with a plurality of apertures each having a flared portion merging directly into a cylindrical zone and each having a curved shoulder below the cylindrical zone, means movable into said apertures for depositing cylindrical sleeve gaskets within said cylindrical zones and for forcing gaskets therefrom into closures, means for indexing said rotatable member and successively aligning said apertures with a closure station, a conveyor for presenting closures to said apertures beneath said cylindrical zones, means beneath said rotatable member and beneath a presented closure for supporting the closure, and means for moving at least a portion of said supporting means toward said shoulder for pressing an edge of a closure against the shoulder and turning inwardly the edge of the closure.

2. In a machine for assembling closure caps and ring gaskets the combination of a rotatable member provided with a plurality of apertures each having a flared portion merging directly into a cylindrical zone and each having a curved shoulder below the cylindrical Zone, a reciprocable member movable into said flared portions for depositing cylindrical sleeve gaskets within said cylindrical zones, means for indexing said rotatable member and successively aligning said apertures with a closure station, a conveyor for presenting closures to said aperturesbeneath said cylindrical zones, an additional reciprocable member spaced circumferentially from said first reciprocable member movable into said apertures for forcing deposited gaskets from said cylindrical zones, into closures, means beneath said rotatable member and beneath a presented closure for supporting the closure, and means for moving at least a portion of said supporting means toward said shoulder for pressing an edge of the closure against the shoulder and turnin inwardly the edge of the closure.

3. In a machine for assembling closure caps and ring gaskets, the combination of a rotatable member provided with a plurality of apertures each having a flared portion merging directly into a cylindrical zone and each having a curved shoulder below the cylindrical zone, means movable into said apertures for depositing cylindrical sleeve gaskets within said cylindrical zones and for forcing gaskets therefrom into closures, means for indexing said rotatable member and successively aligning said apertures with a closure station, a conveyor for presenting closures to said apertures beneath said cylindrical zones, means beneath said rotatable member and beneath a presented closure for supporting the closure, means for moving at least a portion of said supporting means toward said shoulder for pressing an edge of a closure against the shoulder and turning inwardly the edge Ofthe closure, and an upwardly extending annular flange comprising part of said supporting means for extending about closure skirt portions and sustaining them during inward turning of said edge.

4. In a machine for assembling closure caps and ring gaskets, the combination of a rotatable member provided with a plurality of apertures each having a flared portion merging directly into a cylindrical zone and each having a curved shoulder below the cylindricalzone, means movable into said apertures for depositing cylindrical sleeve gaskets within said cylindrical zones and for forcing gaskets therefrom into closures, means for indexing said rotatable member and successively aligning said apertures with a closure station, a conveyor for presenting closures to said aperturesbeneath said cylindrical zones, means beneath said rotatable member and be-,

neath a presented closure for supporting the closure and turning inwardly an edge thereof including an outer cup-shaped member and an inner relatively movable member, and means for moving the inner member toward said shoulder to bring an edge of the closure into contact with said shoulder and for moving said cup-shaped member toward said shoulder for forcing an edge of a closure against the shoulder and turning inwardly the edge of the closure.

5. In a machine for assembling closure caps and ring gaskets, the combination of a rotatable member provided with a plurality of apertures each having a flared portion merging directly into a cylindrical zone and each having a curved shoulder below the cylindrical zone, a skirt portion projecting downwardly from said rotatable member adjacent inwardly disposed portions of each of said apertures, means movable into said apertures for depositing cylindrical sleeve gaskets Within said cylindrical zones and for forcing gaskets therefrom into closures, means for indexing said rotatable member and successively aligning said apertures with a closure station, a conveyor below the level of said downwardly projecting skirt portions for presenting closures successively to said apertures beneath said cylindrical zones, means beneath said rotatable member and beneath a presented closure for supporting the closure, and means for moving at least a portion of said supporting means toward said shoulder for pressing an edge of a closure against the shoulder and turning inwardly the edge of the closure.

6. In a machine for assembling closure caps and ring gaskets, the combination of a rotatable member provided with a plurality of apertures each having a flared portion merging directly into a cylindrical zone and each having a curved shoulder below the cylindrical zone, a skirt portion projecting downwardly from said rotatable member adjacent inwardly disposed portions of each of said apertures, means movable into said apertures for depositing cylindrical sleeve gaskets within said cylindrical .zones and for forcing gaskets therefrom into closures, means for indexing said rotatable member and successively aligning said apertures with a closure station, a conveyor below the level of said downwardly projecting skirt portions for presenting closures successively to said apertures beneath said cylindrical zones, means beneath said rotatable member and beneath a presented closure for supporting the closure, means for moving at least a por tion of said supporting means toward said shoulder for pressing an edge of a closure against the shoulder and turning inwardly the edge of the closure, and curved guide means below said rotatable member adjacent the periphery til 'eoi extending from a location adjacent conveyor to a location adjacent a closure ejecting station for maintaining closures within said downwardly projecting skirt portions during movement of the rotatable member.

7. In a machine for assembling closure caps and ring gaskets, the combination or" a rotatable member provided with a plurality of apertures each having a flared portion merging directly into a cylindrical zone and each having a curved shoulder below the cylindrical zone, a skirt portion projecting downwardly from said rotatable member adjacent inwardly disposed portions of each of said apertures, means movable into said apertures for depositing cylindrical sleeve gaskets within said cylindrical zones and-"for forcing gaskets therefrom into closures, means for indexing said rotatable member and successively aligning said apertures with a closure station, a conveyor below said downwardly projecting skirt portions for presenting closures thereto and to said apertures beneath said cylindrical zones, means beneath said rotatable member and beneath a presented closure for supporting the closure, means for moving at least a portion of said supporting means toward said shoulder for pressing an edge of a closure against the shoulder and turning inwardly the edge of the closure, and means beneath said rotatable member for ejecting closures from said skirt including a guide disposed generally radially of the rotatable member, an ejecting member having a portion projecting upwardly toward said rotatable member and movable with respect to said guide, and means for moving said ejecting member portion along the guide for ejecting assembled closures and gaskets from said downwardly projecting skirt portions.

8. In a machine for assembling closure caps and ring gaskets, the combination of a rotatable member provided with a plurality of apertures each having a flared portion merging directly into a cylindrical zone and each having a curved shoulder below the cylindrical zone, a plurality of spaced skirt portions projecting downwardly from said rotatable member adjacent inwardly disposed portions of each of said apertures, means movable into said apertures for depositing cylindrical sleeve gaskets within said cylindrical zones and for forcing gaskets therefrom into closures, means for indexing said rotatable member and successively aligning said apertures with a closure station, a conveyor below said downwardly projecting skirt portions for presenting closures thereto and to said apertures beneath said cylindrical zones, means beneath said rotatable member and beneath a presented closure for supporting the closure, means for moving at least a portion of said supporting means toward said shoulder for pressing an edge of a closure against the shoulder and turning inwardly the edge of the closure, and closure ejecting means beneath said rotatable member including a guide slot extending generally radially of the rotatable member from a location inward of said spaced downwardly projecting skirt portions, a closure moving member having a portion projecting upwardly toward said rotatable member, and means for moving said closure moving member along said slot and said projecting portion between said spaced downwardly projecting skirt portions for ejecting assembled closures and gaskets therefrom.

9. In a machine for assembling closure caps and ring gaskets, the combination of a rotatable member provided with a plurality of apertures each havinga flared portion merging directly into a cylindrical zone and each having a curved shoulder below the cylindrical zone, a plurality of circumferentially spaced skirt portions projecting downwardly from said rotatable member adjacent inwardly disposed portions of each of said apertures, means movable into said apertures for depositing cylindrical sleeve gaskets within said cylindrical zones and for forcing gaskets therefrom into closures, means for indexing said rotatable member and successively aligning said apertures with a closure station, a conveyor below said downwardly projecting skirt portions for presenting closures thereto and to said apertures beneath said cylindrical zones, means beneath said rotatable member and beneath a presented closure for supporting the closure, means for moving at least a portion of said supporting means toward said shoulder for pressing an edge of a closure against the shoulder and turning inwardly the edge of the closure, and closure ejecting means beneath said rotatable member ineluding a guide slot extending generally radially of the rotatable member from a location inward of said spaced downwardly projecting skirt portions to a location beyond the periphery of the rotatable member, a closure moving member having a portion projecting upwardly toward said rotatable member, and means for moving said closure moving member lengthwise of said slot and said projecting portion between and completely through said circumferentially spaced downwardly projecting skirt portions for ejecting assembled closures and gaskets therefrom.

10. In a machine for assembling closure caps and ring gaskets, the combination of a rotatable member provided with a plurality of apertures each having a flared portion merging directly into a cylindrical zone and each having a curved shoulder below the cylindrical zone, a gasket conveyor adjacent an outer edge of said rotatable member, a gasket stop member extending over upper surfaces of both said conveyor and rotatable member having an arcuate shaped end registrable successively with said apertures, a member movable over the gasket conveyor toward said arcuate end for pressing gaskets toward said arcuate end and aligning them with said apertures, means movable through said arcuate end and into said apertures for depositing cylindrical sleeve gaskets within said cylindrical zones and for forcing gaskets therefrom into closures, means for indexing said rotatable member and successively aligning said apertures with said arcuate end and with a closure station, a conveyor for presenting closures to said apertures beneath said cylindrical zones. means beneath said rotatable member and beneath a presented closure for supporting the closure, and means for moving at least a portion of said supporting means toward said shoulder for pressing an edge of a closure against the shoulder and turning inwardly the edge of the closure.

11. In a machine for assembling closure caps and ring gaskets, the combination of a rotatable member provided with a plurality of apertures each having a flared portion merging directly into a cylindrical zone and each having a curved shoulder below the cylindrical zone, a gasket conveyor adjacent an outer edge of said rotatable member, a gasket stop member extending over upper surfaces of both said conveyor and rotatable member having an arcuate shaped end registrable successively with said apertures, a member having an arcuate end facing toward the arcuate end of said stop member and movable parallel to a portion of said stop member over the gasket conveyor toward said arcuate end for pressing kaskets toward said arcuate end and aligning them with said apertures, means movable through said arcuate end and into said apertures for depositing cylindrical sleeve gaskets within said cylindrical zones and for forcing gaskets therefrom into closures, means for indexing said rotatable member and successively aligning said apertures with said arcuate end and with a closure station, a conveyor for presenting closures to said apertures beneath said cylindrical zones, means beneath said rotatable member and beneath a presented closure for supporting the closure, and means for moving at least a por- 17 tion of said supporting means toward said shoulder for pressing an edge of a closure against the shoulder and turning inwardly the edge of the closure.

ARTHUR A. JAHR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,063,700 Kruse June 3, 1913 1,194,759 McDonald et a1. Aug. 15, 1916 Number 18 Name Date Stabler et a1 Oct. 14, 1919 Bruns Mar. 16, 1920 Wendell Nov. 29, 1921 Thornburgh Oct. 24, 1922 Widell Aug. 3, 1923 Berg Dec. 11, 1923 Fink Oct. 30, 1928 White May 26, 1931 Kosatka Nov, 26, 1940 Kronquest et a1. Sept. 9, 1941 Williams Sept. 22, 1942 

